Rookie Dotson Scores 30, Helping Knicks Blow Out Heat

NEW YORK (AP) — Rookie Damyean Dotson had career-high 30 points and 11 rebounds, reserve Luke Kornet added a career-best 17 points and the New York Knicks blew out the Miami Heat 122-98 on Friday night.

Goran Dragic had 15 points and Hassan Whiteside chipped in 14 in Miami’s disappointing effort with the postseason set to tip off next weekend.

The Heat remained in sixth place in the Eastern Conference, a half-game ahead of Milwaukee. The Knicks host the Bucks on Saturday.

Miami scored the first four points of the game, and from there the Knicks took over, ending the first quarter with a 34-23 lead despite losing forward Michael Beasley for good with a left knee injury just 14 seconds into the contest.

New York went into the half leading 63-50 and led by 18 at the start of the third quarter before Miami got as close as 10 points when James Johnson scored five straight to cut the gap 69-59 with 9:56 remaining.

The Knicks then outscored Miami 27-19 to put the game away for good, going into the fourth quarter up 96-78.

TIP-INS

Knicks: The Knicks were without Emmanuel Mudiay (headache) in the second half after the point guard lost his balance late in the second quarter and fell out of bounds near the baseline, hitting his head on a camera man’s knee. . New York’s Tim Hardaway Jr. had to leave the game with 41 seconds left in the third quarter after he grabbed a rebound and injured his left ankle as he landed on his feet. He sat down briefly on the bench before leaving for the locker room.

Heat: Kelly Olynyk scored 11 points and Wayne Ellington had 10.

INSIDER’S TIP

The LeBron James billboard craze hit the Big Apple, and someone that’s very close to the three-time NBA champion laughed it off.

Ahead of James’ final visit of the season with Cleveland to Madison Square Garden on Monday night, a billboard raised right across the street from the arena’s main entrance implores this summer’s top free agent to sign with the Knicks.

“KING OF NEW YORK? PROVE IT. KINGJAMESNYC2018,” read the sign placed by NYC Ads Co., a New York City-based marketing company.

Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Portland, Oregon and Akron, Ohio, James’ hometown, have each devised their billboard campaigns with hopes of swaying the 14-time All-Star’s decision once the free agency market opens up in July.

Dwyane Wade’s take before the Heat took the floor at the Garden on Friday night?